The present disclosure is directed to fatty-acid glycerol ester derivative compounds containing a targeting bisphosphonate group. The disclosure further includes pharmaceutical or biomedical compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of using these compounds and compositions forming microbubbles. The microbubbles have affinity for metal-containing, especially calcium-containing, bodies and/or biological targets. In certain embodiments, these compositions are useful for providing targeted placement of microbubbles capable of cavitation on application of high frequency energy.

A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. Provided herein are systems and methods that provide efficacious non-invasive and minimally invasive therapeutic, diagnostic and research procedures. In particular, provided herein are systems and methods for acoustically coupling a histotripsy therapy system to the skin of a patient to provide targeted, efficacious histotripsy in a variety of different regions and under a variety of different conditions without causing undesired tissue damage to intervening/non-target tissues or structures.

A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. Provided herein are systems and methods that provide efficacious non-invasive and minimally invasive therapeutic, diagnostic and research procedures. In particular, provided herein are systems and methods for acoustically coupling a histotripsy therapy system to the skin of a patient to provide targeted, efficacious histotripsy in a variety of different regions and under a variety of different conditions without causing undesired tissue damage to intervening/non-target tissues or structures.

Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue are described.

Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue are described.

The present invention provides a device for rejuvenating a region of skin or mucosal tissue, comprising: a pulsed electromagnetic frequency generator; a plurality of electrodes in communication with the pulsed electromagnetic frequency generator and an RF tissue diathermy device. The electrodes apply the pulsed electromagnetic power and the RF tissue diathermy to the tissue, heating it such that one portion of the region of mucosal tissue is maintained at a predetermined temperature range T.sub.1 while another portion of the region of mucosal tissue is at least temporarily maintained at predetermined temperature range T.sub.2.

The present invention provides a device for rejuvenating a region of skin or mucosal tissue, comprising: a pulsed electromagnetic frequency generator; a plurality of electrodes in communication with the pulsed electromagnetic frequency generator and an RF tissue diathermy device. The electrodes apply the pulsed electromagnetic power and the RF tissue diathermy to the tissue, heating it such that one portion of the region of mucosal tissue is maintained at a predetermined temperature range T.sub.1 while another portion of the region of mucosal tissue is at least temporarily maintained at predetermined temperature range T.sub.2.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein are systems and methods of treating a patient that can include the steps of accessing the sphenopalatine fossa, and cannulating the inferior orbital fissure from the sphenopalatine fossa to access the retro-orbital space. The sphenopalatine fossa can be accessed via various routes, including percutaneously. Accessing the sphenopalatine fossa can include the step of inserting a needle-catheter system into the sphenopalatine fossa. Integrated needle-catheter systems as described herein can also be configured to access the trigeminal ganglion, epidural space, intrathecal space, and other desired anatomical locations.

Multifunctional ultrasound systems and methods for body section registration and mapping of microbubble dynamics. A system is provided that includes one or more micromachined ultrasonic transducer arrays (MUTAs) configured to capture a high-resolution image of at least a portion of a body section using ultrasound and monitor microbubble activity during ultrasound treatment. The system includes an image registration module configured to spatially register the high-resolution image with a reference image. The system includes electronics configured to control one or more of drive signal amplitude, frequency filtering, multiplexing, and DC bias voltage. The system can be configured to control ultrasound treatment based on the monitoring of the microbubble activity during treatment.

A multi-frequency ultrasound therapy apparatus is configured to operate at its center frequency and at the higher harmonic of its center frequency. The center frequency can be for the entire apparatus or for each ultrasound source element. At least one source element can generate ultrasound energy at its center frequency while, simultaneously, at least another source element can generate ultrasound energy at the higher harmonic of its center frequency. In addition, the same source element can generate ultrasound energy at its center frequency and the higher harmonic of its center frequency, respectively, but at different times. A data storage unit that stores encrypted and encoded data is disposed on the apparatus. The encoded data includes a unique identification code of the apparatus, the condition of use of the apparatus, the center frequency of each source element, the ultrasound efficiency of each source element, and/or other parameters relating to the apparatus.